“A bureaucrat is one who has the power to say “no” but none to say “yes”. Bureaucrats can find an infinite number of reasons for rejecting any proposed change, but can find none for accepting it.”

Ackoff (2006) A little book of f-laws: 13 common sins of management. p. 12.
2000s

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "A bureaucrat is one who has the power to say “no” but none to say “yes”. Bureaucrats can find an infinite number of rea…" by Russell L. Ackoff?
Russell L. Ackoff photo
Russell L. Ackoff70
Scientist 1919–2009

Related quotes

China Miéville photo

“There wasn’t even any reasoning. Secrecy was just a bureaucrats’ reflex.”

China Miéville Embassytown

Source: Embassytown (2011), Chapter 22 (p. 276)

P.T. Barnum photo

“The desire for wealth is nearly universal, and none can say it is not laudable, provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities, and uses it as a friend to humanity.”

P.T. Barnum (1810–1891) American showman and businessman

Ch. 20: &quot;Preserve your integrity&quot; http://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/www/barnum/moneygetting/moneygetting_chap21.html <br class="br">Art of Money Getting (1880)

Benjamin Disraeli photo

“None are so interested in maintaining the institutions of the country as the working classes. The rich and the powerful will not find much difficulty under any circumstances in maintaining their rights, but the privileges of the people can only be defended and secured by popular institutions.”

Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881) British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Prime Minister

Source: Letter to a working men's club (1867), quoted in William Flavelle Monypenny and George Earle Buckle, The Life of Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield. Volume II. 1860&ndash;1881 (London: John Murray, 1929), p. 297.

Leon Trotsky photo
Sara Teasdale photo
Persius photo

“None, none descends into himself, to find
The secret imperfections of his mind.”

Ut nemo in sese tentat descendere! nemo! Sed praecedenti spectatur mantica tergo.

Persius (34–62) ancient latin poet

Satire IV, line 23 (translated by John Dryden).
The Satires

Bernie Sanders photo

“We have accepted a warped sense of priorities which says America can always find enough money for war, but that there is never enough for infrastructure or education or nutrition programs. We are going to reject that idea and invest in our people.”

Bernie Sanders (1941) American politician, senator for Vermont

Twitter, https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/ (3 July 2019) <br class="br">2010s, 2019, July 2019

Winston Peters photo
Carl Sagan photo

Related topics